Sunday, January 18, 2009

Rafa Benitez last night insisted he isn't a control freak - but reiterated that he wants full authority on transfer policy.

The Kop boss turned down a contract extension that would have kept him at Anfield for a further five years and was worth £20m as the boardroom split that has torn Liverpool apart over the last two years widened further.

Owner Tom Hicks is prepared to back the Spaniard, but he faces opposition from partner George Gillett and chief executive Rick Parry in a row that threatens to wreck Liverpool's title challenge.

Benitez, who has just 18 months left on his current deal, feels he should be allowed full control to spend his transfer budget on players he has identified.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina insists that the club can only be judged by how much silverware they have claimed come the end of the season.

The Reds stuttered to a 0-0 draw at Stoke last weekend and will be forced into second place for the first time in more than a month if Manchester United can claim three points on Saturday.

As a result, many are predicting that Liverpool's early season form will peter out over the final months of the Premier League campaign, but Reina is adamant that no judgments should be made until May.

"The end of the season is the best time to analyse the players and the team. Then we will have the trophies on our side - or they will be on the other side," the Spaniard told The Daily Express.

"It is important to win a trophy this season. If it can be the league then that would be unbelievable."

However, standing in the immediate way for Reina's side are consecutive Merseyside derbies that could well prove vital to Liverpool's hopes of silverware.

"These games against Everton are like two finals. In the one we fight for the cup, but the league game is a final too," added the keeper.

"We have to win. We cannot drop any more points at home. That will be difficult, but that has to be or target."

Though one man determined to undo The Reds' title hopes will be Reina's old friend Mikel Arteta, who has proved to be Everton's star player so far this season.

The two players used to bunk together as youngsters at Barcelona's academy, but, despite a close friendship, the Liverpool stopper expects that there will be no love lost when they meet on the pitch.

"He knows, and I know, that if he has to punish me with a free-kick or penalty he will do it. If I can save it I will," Reina added.

"Mikel looks out for his team and I will do the same. For 90 minutes we will not be friends."

Meanwhile, the Reds have offered Swedish midfielder Alexander Kacaniklic his first professional contract after impressing in the Liverpool under-18 team.

Kacaniklic was brought into the Reds Academy in the summer of 2007 from Helsingborg and has now signed a deal with the league leaders which runs until June 2010.

A veteran of many Merseyside derbies, ex-Liverpool defender Alan Hansen thinks the Reds will have the upper hand in the two upcoming clashes between the Reds and Everton - especially as the Toffees will be without suspended Fellaini.

On Monday evening Liverpool host Everton, their neighbours from across Stanley Park, in what will be the 207th Merseyside derby. And six days later, on the following Sunday, the 208th will be contested in an FA Cup fourth round tie.

Former Liverpool great Alan Hansen played in many a Merseyside derby and is excited by the prospect of the imminent double-header. Now a leading pundit for the New Football Pools and BBC TV's Match of the Day, Hansen said:

"My old club Liverpool face two Merseyside derbies against in form Everton in the League and FA Cup in what should be cracking games.

"Both sides are playing well but the Toffees' loss of Marouane Fellaini is a massive blow to their ambitions. The big Belgian plays a big part in the way they currently play and offers size and physical strength to a relatively small Everton midfield. He also weighs in with goals which the Blues will struggle to replace with their lack of strength in depth in key areas.

"Despite the fact the match will be tense and no quarter given in any area of the pitch, I would perhaps unsurprisingly have to back my old club to win both games. Rafa’s side will have too much quality for Everton in both midfield and attack but it certainly won’t be easy.

"If David Moyes’ side could win either one of these two clashes it would set them up for the rest of the season but I personally can’t see it."

The Liverpool force want to emulate their Hampshire colleagues, who handled the Sol Campbell affair by cracking down on any offensive chanting.

Extra officers will be on the beat with instructions to arrest anybody making crude gestures, or singing inappropriate songs.

Obscene chants have recently been aimed at Liverpool captain Gerrard and Merseyside police Chief Supt Dave Lewis said: "We will speak to the CPS to see if what is sung is viewed as abusive and we could arrest people and charge them. We won't be arresting hundreds as we haven't got the resources to do so and could prompt a melee.

It was recently confirmed that Rafael Benitez had rejected Liverpool's latest contract offer due to a disagreement over wages and the terms of the deal.

Press reports suggest that the Spanish manager hopes to be granted complete control in the transfer market, but club co-owner Tom Hicks yesterday declared that the main issue is the speed - or lack thereof - with which signings are made.

Hicks stressed that he was determined to work things out one way or another, and Benitez is similarly eager to reach an agreement when the American returns to Merseyside in February.

The former Valencia boss told the News of the World, "We will see what happens when Tom Hicks comes next month. Maybe we will talk again in the future.

"When the owners offered me a contract I said we needed to do it quickly as I wanted no distractions. We have been talking for two months and they know my idea. If we can’t progress, we finish the conversations.

"We were close. I have no problem talking with them and anyone else at the club. The phone still works both ways, but I will try to concentrate on the football."

Nevertheless, a sliver of doubt lingers over Benitez's future at Anfield, and a number of clubs - most notably Juventus and Real Madrid - are thought to be keeping tabs on his situation.

But Rafa said, "I’m linked with a lot of teams but I guarantee I’m focused on winning trophies for Liverpool. I want to stay at Liverpool for a long time. I’m signing young players because I’m thinking about the future. I’ve told the owners what I want and that’s it."